The United Nationalities Youth Forum, which will include youths of all ethnicities from all Burma’s states and regions, was established on the final day of Nationalities Youth Forum on 1st October.
The Nationalities Youth Forum was held from 29th September till 1st October at the Shwe Myintmo Tun Hotel in Mawlamyaine Township, Mon State.
Mi Maramu, a provisional committee member of the Nationalities Youth Forum said: “A working committee [for the United Nationalities Forum] will be formed at a meeting to be held next month at a location yet to be decided. The Mon Youth Progressive Organisation (MYPO) will continue to lead [the process] in Mon State.”
IMNA learnt that topics discussed at the Nationalities Youth Forum included: the current internal and international affairs of the country; youths and the peace process; the danger of drugs; youths and environmental protection and youths and the educational sector.
Ko Kyaw Zaya, an organizer of the central working committee from the National League for Democracy (NLD) said: “I appreciate this kind of ethnics’ meeting. They might need to do some work on which procedures to follow, but it is better that we have these sort of meetings than not. It is good for the future of our country if we have meetings where all ethnicities meet to come up with answers.”
The first meeting of the United Nationalities Youth Forum will be held in the first week of November. A working committee will be formed and the role of youths in education and teaching using ethnic languages will be discussed. Schedules for work to be done in the areas of youths and the peace process and youths and the dangers of drugs will also be prioritized and implemented at the meeting.
Ko Am Pee from Chinland Natural Resources Watch group said: “Even amongst our own nationalities we have less time to talk. Even though we are friendly with each other the reality is that we are having fewer discussions related to political, environmental and youth issues so this kind of forum is very good.”
In total 107 representatives from 31 organisations, including youth groups, women’s organisations, student’s unions, political party youth branches and community-based organisations (CBOs), participated in the Nationalities Youth Forum.
